SELANGAU: A 38-door longhouse at Mile 36, Jalan Sibu-Selangau was razed by fire today.
The inferno left 171 residents of Rh Jungan Gerang homeless. Those affected included six babies and 50 children.
Some of the residents are being sheltered at a Mile 36 catholic church while others are staying with their relatives.
No injuries or casualties were reported in the 6.55am blaze.
Firemen from Selangau and Sungai Merah stations were promptly despatched to the scene.
A spokesman for the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) said as at 12.30pm, firefighters were still at the scene of the incident.
The cause of the fire and losses incurred are yet to be ascertained.
News of the fire caught the attention of some state leaders, including Senator Rita Sarimah Patrick Insol, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan, Baleh assemblyman Nicholas Kudi Jantai Masing and Tamin assemblyman Christopher Gira, Minister in the Sarawak Premier's Department Datuk John Sikie Tayai, Deputy Minister for Utilities and Telecommunications Datuk Liwan Lagang, Deputy Minister for Infrastructure and Port Development Datuk Majang Renggi, Deputy Minister for International Trade and Investment Datuk Malcolm Mussen Lamoh, Ngemah assemblyman Anyi Jana, Murum assemblyman Kennedy Chukpai Ugon and Bukit Begunan assemblyman Datuk Mong Dagang.
To help out the affected residents, a total of RM73,000 were contributed by Rita (RM10,000), Nicholas (RM10,000), Snowdan (RM15,000) and Gira (RM38,000), Sikie (RM15,000), Malcolm (RM15,000), Liwan, (RM15,000), Majang (RM15,000), Anyi (RM5,000), Chukpai (RM10,000) and Mong (RM5,000).
The Bomba Sibu Zone, meanwhile, has set up a one-stop centre near the scene to help coordinate assistance.
The department will also help prepare letters if the affected residents want to make any arrangements with government departments and agencies for identity documents.
